OP0283-PARE HELLENIC LEAGUE’S AGAINST RHEUMATISM’S SCHOOL OF HEALTH EDUCATION
Authors: K. Antonopoulou, A. Pappa, D. Kouvelas, N. Malliou, K. Tsekoura, M. Salamaliki, E. Oikonomoula, K. Rousta
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2023)

<h3>Background</h3> The more time healthcare professionals spend with patients the better the health outcomes become. Therefore, education seems to play a crucial role for the quality of life not only for the patients but also for the health care costs and the future cost projections that depend on the health outcomes of everyone. <h3>Objectives</h3> Aim of the School of Health Education is to give the opportunity to participants to familiarize themselves with frequently used terminology in everyday clinical practice, to become accustomed in using the common medical language when describing their symptoms to their doctors so that they will have a common ground. Basic goal of this education is for every patient to understand a bit more about concepts such as medications, adverse events, pharmacovigilance etc. <h3>Methods</h3> Interactive live events, of approximately 2hour duration, have already take place in 15 cities of Greece. In the year 2020 COVID restrictions did not allow for such events to be organized. The project will start again during 2023. Speakers in the events were: rheumatologists, general physicians, anesthesiologists, psychiatrists, psychologists, gynecologists, clinical pharmacologists and others. <h3>Results</h3> Over 1800 patients, caregivers, members of the public, stakeholders, members of the local authorities, healthcare professional and others participated in the live events. Handouts and printed material from HELAR/ELEANA were given to participants as well an evaluation form to complete. The events generated a lot of press locally and nationally, with 4 press conferences, 25 press releases, 18 TV interviews and 10 radio interviews. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Publicity and participation in the events showed that patient education is quite important for the patients and the local communities. Since 2020 and the COVID pandemic there has been a shift towards public health issues and health education creating a unique opportunity for HELAR/ELEANA's School of Health Education to be adapted and become once more available for the patients living with an RMD. This time the new version could be either a virtual version or a live version for many more patients, caregivers and the public to be able to attend. <h3>Acknowledgements</h3> Hellenic League Against Rheumatism is grateful to Dimitrios Kouvelas, MD, BPharm, PhD, Professor of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, Head of the Dept of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki for his precious scientific contribution, implementation and for being the main speaker voluntarily. The School of Health Education was awarded the bronze prize by the Health Care Business Awards in 2019. <h3>Disclosure of Interests</h3> KATY ANTONOPOULOU: None declared, ATHANASIA PAPPA: None declared, DIMITRIOS KOUVELAS Consultant of: DEMO, STILVI, Nadia Malliou: None declared, Katerina Tsekoura: None declared, MACHI SALAMALIKI: None declared, EVANGELIA OIKONOMOULA: None declared, KATERINA ROUSTA: None declared.